Earring adjusting device



Sept. 26, 1961 o. M. DYER, JR

EARRING ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 2, 1960 Offo M; Dyer; J/r

IN VENTOR.

0 BY WW Attnme s and United States Patent 3,001,427 EARRING ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 53,681

Claims. (Cl. 81-15) I This invention relates to new and useful improvernents in devices for making mechanical adjustments, and the principal object of the invention is to facilitate *emcient and convenient adjustment of clamps on earrings.

Ladies earrings usually have a spring-pressed clamp arm to engage the ear lobe, and especially when the earrings are new, the spring action on the clamp arm is so strong that the clamp engages the ear lobe too tightly, thus causing discomfort. Usually, any eifort to adjust the clamp by bending the same with fingers, or the like, either loosens the clamp too much'or causes the spring of the clamp to break. The invention eliminates these disadvantages by providing a mechanical device whereby the force exerted by the spring of the earring clamp may be properly adjusted so. that the earring is comfortable to wear, yet does not fall off the ear lobe.

As such, the adjusting device in accordance with the invention comprises a frame having a seat for the clamp arm of an earring together with an adjusting screw which is adapted to engage the usual spring on the clamp arm, so that by a simple adjustment of the screw, the spring may be set at a selected angle relative to the clamp arm and the tensioning eifect of the spring on the earring clamp varied accordingly.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, easy and eflicient operation, in its convenient portability so that it may be readily carried in a purse or handbag, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the earring adjusting device in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an underside or inner side perspective view of a conventional earring such as may be adjusted by the use of the invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, showing the adjusting device and earring in position therein.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the adjusting device is designated generally by the numeral 10 and may be used in conjunction with a conventional earring 12.

The conventional earring 12 usually consists of an ear lobe engaging clip or clamp including a pair of coacting clamp members or arms 14, 16 which are pivotally connected together as at 18. The clamp member 16 carries a suitable earring body 20 and is also provided with an abutment 22 disposed adjacent the pivot means 18 and engaged by a leaf type spring 24 formed integrally with the clamp arm 14, whereby the clamp members 14, 16 are urged to their ear lobe clamping position, as will be understood. A convexo-concave portion 26 is usually provided on the clamp arm 14 to engage the earlobe and prevent the earring from slipping.

The adjusting device 10 embodies in its construction a frame 28 which is in the form of an angular bar or strap having an intermediate portion 30 provided with a screwdhreaded aperture 32, and one end portion 34 2 which is perpendicular to the portion 30. The other end portion of the frame 28 is reversely bent and provides a U-shaped seat 36 to receive the clamp arm 14 of the earring, it being noted that the seat 36 is formed with an opening 38 to accommodate the convex portion 26 of the clamp arm, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 3; A clamping screw 40, equipped with a knurled head 42, operatively engages a screw-threaded aperture 44 in the frame 28 and is adapted to engage the concavity of the clamp arm portion 26, whereby to releasably retain the clamp arm 14 of the earring in the seat 36.

An adjusting screw 46, equipped with a knurled head 48, operatively engages the aforementioned screw-threadedaperture 32 and has its shank formed with an annular groove 51 to engage the free end of the spring 24 when the earring is applied to the device as shown in FIGURE 3. It will be apparent from the foregoing that with the clamp arm 14 firmly held by the screw 40 in the seat 36, rotation of the screw 46 will cause the spring 24 to bend, either toward or away from the frame portion 30 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the screw 46, so that the spring may be set at a selected angular relation to the clamp arm and the tensioning eliect of the spring on the clamp of the earring varied accordingly.

It is to be noted that since the spring 24 is usually disposed at an acute angle to the clamp arm 14, the portion 30 of the frame 28 is similarly disposed at an acute angle to the seat 36, whereby the earring is readily accommodated in the adjusting device with the adjusting screw 46 operating substantially perpendicularly to the spring 24.

The aforementioned portion 34 of the frame 28 is provided with a set of graduations 52 which may be read or observed in relat on to the top surface 54$ of the screw head 48 in order to determine the adjustment of the screw 46. In other words, the screw may be turned so that it is axially shifted by one graduation at a time, whereupon the earring may be removed from the device and applied to the ear lobe for determining fit, and if a further adjustment is desirable for a comfortable fit, the earring may be applied to the device for such further adjustment. In this manner the possibility of bending the spring too much and the necessity of bending it back are eliminated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation as shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A device for adjusting a spring on anearring clamp arm, said device comprising a frame provided with a screw-threaded aperture, a clamp arm seat provided on said frame in spaced relation to said aperture, and an adjusting screw provided in said aperture and adapted to engage a clamp arm spring whereby to set the spring at a selected angular relation to the clamp arm.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with means for releasably locking a clamp arm in said seat.

3. A device for adjusting a spring on an earring clamp arm, said device comprising a strap-shaped frame having a portion thereof provided with a screw-threaded aperture, another portion of said frame being substantially U-shaped and forming a clamp arm seat, means for releasably locking a clamp arm in said seat, and an adjusting screw provided in said aperture and formed with an annular groove adapted to engage a clamp arm spring whereby to set the spring at a selected angular relation to the clamp arm by adjustment of said screw.

seat.

4.].ihe device as definedin claim 3 wherein theportion of said ira ne provided with said aperture is oifset by an acute angle from the portion of the frame forming said 5'. For use on an earring clip ofthe type comprising a pivoted clamping arm including a leaf spring, a tension adjusting tool comprising a bar including a reversely bent portion providing a seat for the free end portion of the arm, means for securing the arm on the seat, and means threadedly mounted for adjustment on the bar and engageable with the spring for bending the same.

6. A tension adjusting tool in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first-named means includes a screw threaded through the that and clampingly engageable with the arm.

7. A tension adjusting tool in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second-named means comprises a screw threaded through the bar and including means for operatively connecting said screw to the spring.

8. A tension adjusting tool in accordance with claim 7, whereintthe last-named means includes a circumferential groove in the screw for rotatably receiving a free end portion of the spring.

F r u an r n ip f h t p c mp i in a pivoted clamping aim including a leaf spring, a tension adjusting tool comprising an angular bar including a reversely bent end portion having an opening therein providing a seat for receiving the free end portion of the arm, a clamping screw threaded through the bar and engageable with the arm for securing the same on the seat, and an adjusting screw threaded through the bar and having in one end portion a circumferential groove for rotatably receiving a free end portion of the spring for operatively connecting the adjusting screw thereto for bending said spring.

10. For use on an earring clip of the type comprising a pivoted clamping arm including a leaf spring, a tension adjusting tool comprising an'angular bar ineluding a reversely *bent end portion having an opening therein providing a seat for receiving the free end portion of the arm, a mpi screw th ded th t ba and engag able with the for securing the same on the seat, and

an adjusting screw threaded through the bar and having in one end portion a circumferential groove for rotatabiil receiving a tree end portion of the spring for operatively connecting the adjusting screw thereto for bending said sp sa d her r h fin d n a sh a g l r1yben gr uat end p n adjac n to and p ra l ling he adjusting screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UN TED STATES PAT NT 1,999,105 Mill-a Apr. 2a, was

2,824,474 Lawrence Feb. 25, 1958 2,937,549 Shelby May 24, 1-960 2,948,171 Lucibe'llo Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATE TS 

